VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 335
life and <^odliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.' God hath called us to glory and virtue, which we expound, to heaven and holiness. But the call remaineth ineffectual, there being so much opposition without and within our hearts, and slight and vain apprehensions of it. And the devil catcheth the good seed out of our minds as soon as we begin to be serious, Mat. xiii. 19 ; and we being enchanted with a sensual happiness, do so wilHngly yield to his motions, that all will come to nothing unless God interpose hia divine power to change our hearts, and bring us to life and godliness.
2. More particularly, the order of this calling is set down in the text, in these two injunctions, 'Awake,' and 'Arise from the dead.' Wo are reduced and brought home to God two ways — either (1.) Prepar- atively and dispositively ; or (2.) Formally and constitutively.
[1.] The preparative and dispositive way is intimated in that word * Awake,' and teacheth us this great truth, that our first step to con- version is an awakening, or a serious consideration whence we are, whither we are a-going, or what shall become of us to all eternity, "Wherever conversion to God is spoken of, somewhat of this is implied. Awakening grace goeth before converting grace : Ps. xxii. 27, ' All the ends of the world shall remember, and turn unto the Lord.' First remember, and then turn ; as if they had forgotten themselves all the while befoi'e, and had lived as in a dream, and utter neglect of those common principles which discovered a God ; and do rule, or govern, and influence all the affairs of mankind. So Ps. cxix. 59, ' I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.' Till we con- sider what we have done, and what we should do, there can be no expectation that we should correct our errors, and heartily return to a holy life, or to the obedience we owe to God. So it is said of the prodigal, Luke xv. 17, that 'he came to himself before he thought of returning to his father. There are two parts of religion — to bring men and themselves together, and then to bring them and Christ together ; the one is preparative to the other ; first they come to themselves, and then they are in a hopeful way of being brought to Christ. So Ezek. xviii. 28, 'Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions which he hath committed.' First he considereth, and layeth his course of life to heart, and then turneth from it. As here in the text ; awaking out of the sleep of sin maketh way for the intro- duction of the light of life : 2 Tim. ii. 26, ' That they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil.' In the margin it is ' that they may awake,' avavrj^jrcoaiv. The word avavi'j^eiv signifieth to awake or be sober again after drunkenness, as the scripture expresseth it con- cerning Nabal : 1 Sam. xxv. 37, ' It came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him all these things, that his heart died within him.' So of Noah : Gen. ix. 24, ' And Noah awoke from his wine.' And so if the fumes of lust were thoroughly dissipated and scattered, and men were come to themselves again, much good might be done upon them. I have done with this preparative way of recovery, when I have observed to you two things, for it consists of two branches —
(1.) An awakening sense and sight of our misery ; such the apostle speaketh of Kom. vii. 9, ' When the commandment came, sin revived,
336 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XVL
and I died.' This practical conviction maketh us see our lost estate, for we never value Christ as a saviour till we see our own necessity of him. A cold doctrinal knowledge of sin and misery maketh way but for a dogmatical opinionative faith ; and the offer of grace is never seriously regarded by any that is not made sensible of his sad and miserable case by nature. Therefore this part of the awakening is necessary. As the physician is welcome to the sick, and ease to the burdened, and redemp- tion to the captive, so is the promise to them that are apprehensive of the curse.
(2.) The next awakening concerneth our remedy, which we slight and neglect while we are drunk with worldly felicity : Mat. xxii. 5, ' And they made light of it, and went their way, one to his farm, another to his merchandise.' We prize not Christ and his salvation till the Lord be pleased to open our hearts, as he did the heart of Lydia, Acts xvi. 14. Then we begin to consider what manner of salvation is offered to us, and how deeply we are concerned in it. And conscience begins to scourge us with such a question as that is, Heb. ii. 3, ' How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation ? ' And of what punishment shall we be thought worthy if we despise God's offer ?